Governor Lamont Authorizes State Funding To Support WIC During Federal Shutdown

WATCH: News conference announcing state support for WIC

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is authorizing the use of state funding to support the continued operations of Connecticut's WIC program during the shutdown of the federal government. This will continue state administration of the federal program with the anticipation of eventual reimbursement by the federal government.

The WIC program supports low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to age five, by providing supplemental nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services.

As federal funding for this program has mostly ceased due to the shutdown, Connecticut will cover the $200,000 per day it costs to run the program.

Governor Lamont wants to reassure families in Connecticut who receive WIC benefits that this use of state funding means the program can continue uninterrupted.

"There are many pregnant women, postpartum women, infants, and young children whose only ability to obtain healthy food is through the WIC program, and Connecticut is stepping up to protect this program and ensure it can continue while the shutdown in D.C. goes on," Governor Lamont said. "Connecticut has always been and always will be a state that stands up to support women, children, and families."

More than 52,000 Connecticut residents receive WIC support, including 30,000 children, 11,000 infants, and 11,000 pregnant and postpartum women.

Connecticut's WIC program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. For information on the program, visit portal.ct.gov/dph/wic/wic.